Manifolding machine



June 25, W Q BORCHERS 1,718,680

MANIFOLDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 17, 1926 lil A ORA/EY manifolding machines,

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atented June 25, 1929.

NT OFFICE.

WILMAM G.

REGISTER GOMPANY, 0F HOBOKEN, JEY.

BORGAHERS, 0F HDBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNR T0 AUTOG-RAPHIC NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION @F NEW JER- MANIFOLDNG MCHNJE.

Application led September 17, 1926. Serial No. 136,056.

'lhis invention relates to manifolding machines, and more particularly to means for controlling and guiding worksheet strips to writing positions.

Heretofore, it has been proposed, in guid ing worksheets to the platen in some types of to have between adjacent strips, metal devices which both separate and tension the strips in their feeding movements to writing positions on the platen.

It has also been proposed to provide fabric devices `between adjacent worksheet strips, but these were merely to separate the strips and did not tension them.

Now., according to this invention, it has been found that by employing certain parts of the metal separating and tensioning devices, first referred to above, in combination with an improved form of fabric separators, certain disadvantages inherent in the metal separating and tensioning devices and other disadvantages inherent in the fabric separating devices are avoided, while yet obtaining the advantages of both.

Among these advantages are the complete separation of the worksheet strips just before and up to the time they are in writing positions on the platen; complete avoidance of the danger of damaging the worksheet strips by the separators; smooth and even engagement of the worksheet strips with the separators; automatic tensioning when parts of the manifolding machine are moved into writing po sition; and adjustability of the drag or tension placed on the worksheet strips.

Other devices and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a top plan of a manifolding machine partially broken away to illustrate parts of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the machine shown in Fig. 1, a side frame being broken away and the underlying parts being shown in section.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a fragment of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2, showing' the parts of the present invention in the positions they assume, just after the machine has been loaded and as the top plate or cover is being lowered to operative position.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a fragment of the guide frame of a manifolding machine showing the present invention as applied thereto. y

. The manifolding machine shown in the accompanying drawings, comprises side plates l() between which is provided a storage compartment ll, for a supply of paper l2", which may be in roll or pack form, the latter being shown. Across the side frame 10, at the top of the machine, is a plate 13, over which the strips of the worksheet 12 are ied, to be advanced in form lengths, by feeding mechanlsm 14C located at the front of the machine and comprising a feeding crank 15.

ln order that manifold copies may be made, carbon sheets 16 coming from a supply roll 17 are led across the platen 13, with one carbon sheet between cach two worksheets 12, so that when writing is performed upon the top or uppermost strip, duplicates will be made.

The worksheets are held in writing position on the platen and parts of the mechanism are hidden by a cover plate or marginal frame 18 hinged to the side frames 10 at the rear of the machine by a rod 19.

Itis usual in a manifolding machine to provide-guide mechanism between the supply compartment 11 and the platen 13, but the mechanism now to be described is not usual and forms the subject mattei' of this invention, It is, however', usual to have a guide frame 20 located at the rear of the machine in which rods or rollers 21 are mounted for guiding purposes. i

instead of the worksheets l2 contacting .directly with the rods 2l asusual, the present invention provides upon these rods, loops 22 of fabric separating-leaves 23, which extend forwardly from the rods to a point above the rear margin of the platen 13. Hence, friction will be produced by the movements of the strips around the rods 21 which, as stated, are i covered by the loops 22 on the separators 23. The separators 23 are carried to a point over the. rear margin of the platen so that they will form tables or guides for thesstrips over the gap which is left between the rear edge of the platen and the rods 21. The worksheets are led between the supportingdeaves 23 in loadlng the machine. 1t will thus be seen that by the use of these fabric leaves for the separators 23, a smooth and continuous passage of the Worksheets to the platen is provided for and some drag is placed on the worksheet during their passage over the rods 21, which are covered by the loops 22 of the fabric, and between the leaves 23. This drag is, as a rule, not sufficient to properly hold the sheets for writing purposes and moreover, cannot be varied or controlled to meet different conditions, such as exist when papers of different qualities are used. y

For the purpose of providing a controllable drag or tension on the sheets, the present invention provides under the lowermost separator 23, a group of resilient arms 24 which are secured to the front rod 21 and extend forwardly so that they rest on the rear margin of the platen 13. The arms 24 are bowed upwardly and hence produce an upward deflection of the worksheets 12 and separators 23 at a point adjacent to the rear margin platen, raising the uppermost worksheet to a point where it will be engaged by a plate 25 on the margin frame 1S, when the latter is moved down to operative position (see Fig. 2 from the position it assumes in Fig. 3. Thus, after loading, when the margin frame is returned to its normal position, the worksheets l2 and the separators 23 will be depressed at a point adjacent to the rear mar in of the platen and so flatten out the bowedg arms 24. The arms 24 then exert upward pressure on the worksheets binding them to the separators and producing the proper tension and drag desired for the satisfactory operation of the machine.

When varying conditions, such as a change in the quality of the paper erin the size of the forms necessitating a different drag or f tension on the worksheets, are to be met the resilient arms 24 are deformed so as to change their curvature, being made to follow a shorter -radius when an increased tension is required, and being flattened when a decrease in tension is desired.

It should be noted that this adjustment is extremely simple, for no tools are required to change the adjustment, it being merely necessary to bend the resilient arms 24 by hand.

It has been found in practice that contrary to expectations, the material bestsuited for the fabric separators 23 is a fairly closely woven cotton or silk cloth 29 upon one surface of which a coating of rubber 3() (Fig. 4) is provided; in other Words, it has been discovered by the present invention that balloon cloth is the most satisfactory material for the purpose. It has been found that by usf ing rubberized cloth less tension is required on the spring arms 24 'ro place the desired drag on the Worksheets. This is probably due to the tacky nature. of the rubberized cloth.-

This cloth is easily handled and may besewed as shown at 26 to provide the loops 22, which the foremost rod 21, which also carries the resilient arms 24, the fabric is notched at 27 to permit the ends of the arlns 24 to be wrapped around the rod 21 as at 28.

The sepa-rating and tensioning device of the present invention is, otl course, useful in all types of manifolding machines.A It has, however, been found extremely advantageous when used with a type ot' machine such as in the Shoup and Oliver Patent No. 1,396,070. 1

Variations and mmlitications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having now described the invention, what is claimed as new and for which it is desired to obtain Letters-Patent, is:-

1. In a manifolding machine having a platen over which a pile of worksheets is fed from a supply compartment, guide rods in the path of the worksheets between the su pply compartment and the platen and over which said worksheets pass; fabric strips secured to the guide rods and extending forwardly to a point above the platen` said fabric strips being adapted to be interposed between worksheets of the pile to separate the worksheets as they approach the platen; a frame comprising a plate loeatedlabove said fabric lstrips; and resilient means adapted to press said pile of worksheets and said separators together and against the plate of said frame to thereby put a drag on the worksheets.

2. In a manifolding machine having a platen over which a pile of worksheets is fed from a supply compartment, guide rods in the path of the worksheets between the snpply compartment and the platen and over which said worksheets pass; fabric strips secured to the guide rods and extending forwardly to a point above the platen, said fabric strips being adapted to be interposed between the pile of worksheets to separate the worksheets as they approach the platen; a frame comprising a plate located abovev said fabric strips; and spring arms mounted on one of said guide rods, extending forwardly, and resting on the rear margin of the platen at their forward ends, the spring arms being bowed so as to press the pile of Worksheets and said separators together and upwardly against the plate of said frame and thereby ,put a drag on the worksheets.

3. In a manifolding machine having a platen over which a pile of worksheets is fed rom a supply compartment, guide rods in the path of the worksheets between the supply compartment and the platen and over which said Worksheets pass; fabric strips secured to the guide rods and extending forwardly to a point above the platen, said fabric strips being adapted to be interposed between the pile of worksheets to separate the Worksheets as they approach the platen; a

iframe comprising a plate located above said fabricv strips;- and arms mountedon-oiieY ot said guide rods, extending forwardly, ,fto'f bridge a' gap-between'.saiduguiderod and the rcai'"margin" of the platen' to f prevent the sagging' of the fabric strips. 'il i 4. vIn a maniolding machine hav-.ing 1 ai platen over which a pile of Worksheets is fedf from a supply compartment, means `f or guid-v y -stripsot' balloon 'cloth inserted between thev ing vworksheets from said supply. compartnient to said platen comprising cloth strips having one side smooth and tacky.

5. In va. inanifolding machiney havingfa plate-i1 over which a pile of worksheets is fed from asupply compartment, means for guidving worksheets from said suppl)r compartment to said platen'comprising cloth stripsl interposed between the worksheets, ofthe pile, saidstl-rips being rough on one side and on theother side smooth and tacky. y

' 6.- In a: manifolding machine having a platen over which a pile Vof worksheets is fed' y from a lsupply compartment, means for guiding worksheets from said supply Icompartment to said platen, comprising cloth strips interposed between the worksheets of the pile, said fabric strips consisting of cloth coated witliriibber fon .one side. man if'ilding machine having a 'platen oyerV which a pile of worksheets is fed from a'supply compartment, means for guiding lthe worksheets from said supply compartment Vto ,said platen,Y comprising worksheets ofl the pile.

8; `ln ainanifol'ding machine having a ,platen over which a pile of Worksheets isfed from .a supply 'compartment` means for individually separating the Worksheets as they approach the platen placing a drag on each Worksheet, comprising a' plurality of flexible cloth strips interposed between the worksheets of the pile and extending to the platen at the introductory side thereof.

Signed at Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, this 14th day of'September, 1926.

lVILLIAM G. BORCHERS. 

